13 November 2013 - Visiting Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay and his delegation officially turned over on November 12 the Turkish government’s donations to victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda. Representatives from the Philippine Red Cross headed by Chairman Richard Gordon, who is also Governor of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, were on hand to receive the donations from the Deputy Prime Minister and from the Turkish Red Crescent Society representatives.

The donations consist of 550 pieces of family tents, 550 pieces of family kitchen sets and 5,125 blankets, all-in-all weighing about 64,848 tons. The donations were flown to Manila by.a Turkish Airline cargo plane which arrived last night.

During the simple turn over ceremony held at the MIASCOR cargo warehouse in Parañaque City, Deputy Prime Minister Atalay conveyed his country’s and government’s sincere desire to help the Philippines during this time of crisis and symbolic of this desire are these donations.

Chairman Gordon, for his part, expressed the Philippine Red Cross’ and the Philippines’ deep gratitude to the Turkish government and people for these generous donations which would greatly help alleviate the plight of the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.

Also on hand to witness the formal turn over were Turkish Ambassador Hatice Pinar Isik and Department of Foreign Affairs’ Executive Director for European Affairs Marichu Mauro. END